Report Highlights Critical Underfunding of Mental Health Services in Israel
A groundbreaking report, prepared by the economic team of the Coalition of Mental Health Organizations, in collaboration with Rational and with funding from the philanthropic fund of Dr. Yael Almog Zakai and her family, has shed light on the dire state of public spending on mental health in Israel. The report, which is the first of its kind, examines the extent of public spending on mental health in Israel compared to that of the rest of the world and reveals alarming findings about the underfunding and misallocation of resources in the sector.
According to the report, the rate of public spending on mental health in Israel is only half of that in OECD countries. Despite reforms and intentions to shift the focus from hospitals to the community, the budget for mental health services in the community currently accounts for only 3% of all public spending on health in Israel.
The report also notes that Israel’s total public expenditure on mental health constitutes only 5.8% of the total expenditure on health, while in OECD countries such as England, Germany, and France, the rate of public expenditure on mental health is around 11%.
To bring Israel to a level comparable to that of developed countries, the report estimates that an additional 4 billion shekels are required, excluding the need to adjust the salaries of psychologists and social workers to attract them back to the public sector.
The report’s findings have raised concerns about the system’s ability to cope with the increasing mental health challenges exacerbated by recent events such as the postponement of the academic school year and the war that followed.
The dire situation is further compounded by the shortage of mental health professionals, with Israel having significantly fewer psychiatrists and clinical psychologists per capita compared to countries like France, Switzerland, and Australia.
Additionally, the report has highlighted the excessive reliance on private spending for mental health services in Israel, which creates inequalities and places a heavy burden on families dealing with mental health challenges.
The report also calls for a comprehensive strategic plan and a significant budgetary increase to address the shortcomings in the mental health system, particularly in providing community-based services and crisis interventions.
The report’s authors emphasize that the underfunding of mental health services not only affects the well-being of individuals but also has significant economic consequences, as it hinders individuals from participating in the workforce and places a financial burden on their families.
In light of the report’s findings, urgent action is needed to address the underfunding and misallocation of resources in Israel’s mental health sector to prevent a public health crisis in the long term.
It is clear that failure to address the underfunding of mental health services will have serious implications for the well-being and economic stability of Israeli society.